Cantilevered Storage Unit Mount for Vehicles

ABSTRACT

Storage unit mounting apparatus removably and lockably attachable to a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a single, cantilevered support member removably and irrotationally attachable at its proximal end to the vehicle, the distal end of the support member supporting a receiver having integral mounting means to which the storage unit is attachable. The apparatus is especially suited for vehicles such as motorcycles, all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs), bicycles and the like.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/070,197, filed Feb. 15, 2008, titled CANTILEVERED STORAGE UNITMOUNT FOR VEHICLES.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus attachable to motorcycles,all-terrain vehicles, bicycles, and the like, on which to mount astorage unit for carrying luggage or the like when traveling on suchvehicles.

Devices for affixing storage containers and luggage to motorcycles,which inherently limit available options, currently are many in numberand varied in design and capacity. Most date back to the saddlebags usedlong ago to carry various items and consisting of two bags connectedtogether and being draped over the back end of one's horse and cinchedthereto. Several forms of motorcycle “saddlebags” are described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,053,384, discussed more fully below.

Among the multitude of designs for luggage carriers for motorcycles andthe like, the luggage usually is available in one of two varieties, hardor soft. Soft luggage is usually made from some form of fabric,frequently ballistic nylon or similar durable and flexible material.This luggage usually mounts to the vehicle with straps, tie downs orother securing devices.

It has the benefits of being light and conformable. One drawback in amounting system that uses a number of straps or tie downs is thatinstallation and removal can be time consuming. The luggage or mountingstraps, buckles, etc., frequently contact the vehicle, which can resultin damage to the vehicle. Soft luggage also typically uses zippers orthe like for closures, making them difficult to securely lock.Similarly, the use of straps and tie downs makes the luggage difficultto affix securely to the vehicle.

Alternatively, hard luggage is usually made of fiberglass, plastic,metal, thick leather or some other rigid material. Hard luggage has abenefit of being more easily designed to ensure waterproofness, and itcan be mounted such that it does not contact the vehicle. It is alsoeasier to incorporate secure locking mechanisms for the luggage itselfand to lock it to the vehicle. Hard luggage has a drawback of beingheavier than soft, and requires a more sophisticated mounting system inorder to accommodate the increased weight and the lack of flexibility orconformability inherent in the luggage material. These mounting systemscan be quite large, and are typically permanently attached and noteasily removed from the vehicle or the luggage.

Among the several issued patents directed to luggage carriers forvehicles, especially motorcycles, exemplary is U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,384.The reference discloses a system for removably mounting a saddle bag onthe fender strut of a motorcycle. A mounting assembly includes a frontand rear mounting bracket attached to an inboard face of the bag by arigid backing plate. Two cylindrical spool-like keepers are retrofittedto attach to the existing fender and bag guard mounting points on afender strut. Existing mounting bolts are replaced with longerreplacement bolts. A slot in each bracket is sized to slidably engagethe neck and heads of each keeper. The bag and bracket assembly aresecured to the keepers by a mounting screw.

A foot peg/lock holder combination for a motorcycle is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,131,427. The reference describes a multi-purpose foot restpeg having an elongated groove to accommodate a disc rotor brake lock,with a hole to accommodate the cylinder locking apparatus of an existingU-shaped rotor disc lock attached to a motorcycle as a foot rest. Thisallows the lock to combine with the foot rest peg clevis to create afoot rest/rotor disc lock holder combination for a motorcycle.

More recently, Patent Publication US2007/0062327A1 discloses a passengerfootrest structure which includes a footrest support bracket forsupporting a passenger footrest and an accessory mount formed therewithfor supporting an accessory part other than the footrest. Thepublication describes passenger foot pegs, employed on a motorcycle forthe support of feet of a passenger occupying the passenger's seat behindthe driver, as generally rigidly secured to a motorcycle frame structurethrough respective footrest support brackets. Footrest support bracketsare employed on each side of the motorcycle frame structure. Prior artfootrest structures are said to be exclusively designed to support therespective feet of the fellow passenger and are not designed for anyother purpose than for the support of the fellow passenger's feet. Thereference then describes a motorcycle passenger footrest structurecapable of accommodating, selectively, one of various motorcycleaccessory parts such as a grip bar, a stay for the support of a panniercase, a helmet holder, a rope anchor, and any other component partemployed in association with the motorcycle.

This reference discloses and suggests an additional mount to be added tothe conventional passenger foot peg bracket of a motorcycle to supportthe various accessories described therein.

In contrast to the known prior disclosures, the present inventionprovides an improved mounting system for mounting storage units tovehicles such as motorcycles, ATVs, bicycles, and the like, wherein themounting system fixedly maintains the spatial orientation between thestorage units and the vehicle. The storage units can be removably lockedto the vehicle and the storage system and/or the storage units can bequickly and easily removed and/or reinstalled on the vehicle. Thestorage unit as described and claimed herein is intended to encompasscontainers and receptacles and other variations for storing andtransporting such as straps, nets, clamps, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a complimentary pair of the assembledmounting apparatus of the invention on which storage containers arerespectively affixed, all mounted on foot peg brackets of a motorcycle.

FIG. 2 depicts a conventional foot peg and foot peg bracket for astandard motorcycle, wherein the retracted position of the foot peg isshown and its outwardly extending foot rest position is shown inphantom, the convertability of the mechanism indicated by thedouble-headed arrow.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional motorcycle on which passenger foot rest pegsare mounted to foot peg brackets, the pegs being in the retractedposition in the illustration.

FIGS. 4 and 5 depict exploded views, partially broken away, ofalternate, preferred embodiments of the storage unit mounting apparatusaccording to the invention.

FIGS. 6-9 show further alternate embodiments of the storage containermounting apparatus according to the invention for mounting on the footpeg bracket of a motorcycle.

FIG. 10 depicts an exploded view of the storage container mountingapparatus of the invention, including a swivel joint attachable to arigid strut of a vehicle such as a motorcycle, ATV or bicycle, allaccording to the invention.

FIG. 11 shows a side elevational, exploded view, partially broken away,of a storage container mounted in a vertical orientation with respect tothe mounting apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 12 shows a front elevational, exploded view, partially broken away,of a storage container mounted in a horizontal orientation with respectto the mounting apparatus of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Storage unit mounting apparatus removably attachable to a vehicle isprovided. The apparatus includes a single, cantilevered support memberremovably and irrotationally attachable at its proximal end to thevehicle, the distal end of the support member supporting a receivingmember having integral mounting means to which the storage unit isattachable, optionally removably attachable, to the receiving member.The vehicle may be a motor vehicle such as a motorcycle, anall-terrain-vehicle (ATV), or the like, or, alternatively, a bicycle.

First mounting means for removably affixing the single cantileveredsupport member to the motorcycle preferably includes a mounting blockremovably affixed to the motorcycle to which mounting block the supportmember is affixed.

The means for removably attaching a receiving member to the supportmember preferably includes the receiving member having a tube affixedthereto, the tube adapted to removably receive the support member, whichmay be lockably secured thereto.

The means for attaching a storage container to the receiver preferablyincludes ordinary nuts and bolts.

The storage unit may be constructed of a soft material such as leatheror nylon, or a hard material such as a plastic, for example an ABSplastic, fiberglass, or a metal such as aluminum or steel.

In use with a motorcycle, the support member preferably is removablyattachable at its proximal end to the clevis of a conventional passengerfoot peg bracket of the motorcycle. In addition, the support member maybe lockably attachable to the clevis by a suitable lock having a lockingpin, wherein the locking pin anchors the support member and passesthrough the existing openings in the clevis. The lock may be a key lockor a combination lock. In this preferred embodiment, the proximal end ofthe support member is rectangular or square in cross-section and fitsinto the clevis snugly, thereby rendering the support memberirrotational.

Mounting the storage unit to the receiver can be by a plurality ofbolts, for example, or by an adhesive such as a pressure sensitiveadhesive film or a layer of a liquid epoxy adhesive, or by both.Preferably, mounting is by both a plurality of bolts and a suitableadhesive.

In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus attached to a motorcycleincludes a cantilevered elongate support member insertable into anopening in and through the receiving member into which the supportmember is slidably and snugly received. In this configuration, thesupport member and the opening are both complimentary in cross-sectionsuch that, upon insertion of the support member into the opening, theapparatus is rendered irrotational. For an example, the receiving membermay be a base plate affixed to a square tube into which the elongatesupport member having a square cross-section is received, the storagecontainer being attachable to the base plate. The elongate supportmember and receiving member may be lockable, one to the other and,particularly, the support member and receiving member may be lockable bya lock securable by a locking pin, which pin, upon insertion of theelongate support member into the opening, extends through pre-boredopenings in register in the square tube and the support member.

The storage container itself is preferably independently lockable. Inone such embodiment, a threaded thumb screw is provided, extensible fromthe interior of the storage container through a wall of the container,through the receiving member, and extending into a threaded and tappedopening in the elongate support member, threadingly securable thereat,with the container being independently lockable, thereby providing, uponassembly of the entire apparatus, secure storage containment accessibleonly by unlocking the lockable container.

In a further embodiment, the support member includes a mounting blockremovably lockable into the clevis of a foot peg bracket of amotorcycle, the support member also being removably and lockablyattachable to the receiving member by a second lock and locking pin. Thesecond locking pin can have a generally square cross-section and issnugly insertable into and through square openings in the receivingmember and the mounting block. Alignment pins may be included extendingfrom openings in the receiving member into openings in the mountingblock, whereby rotation between receiver and block is prevented.

In a still further embodiment, the storage container mounting can beattachable to a vehicle through a swivel mount.

In one embodiment, the support member and the receiving member may beconstructed as separate sections and then affixed together to form acomposite structure, such as a configuration wherein the separatesections are metal, are preformed and are affixed together by welding,brazing or soldering. Alternatively, the support member and thereceiving member may be constructed as a single unitary structure. Inthese constructions, a plastic such as a fiber reinforced or filledplastic, particularly a fiber reinforced ABS plastic, or a metal such asa molded, machined or cast metal such as aluminum or steel, arepreferred materials.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS WITHREFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

Storage unit mounting apparatus removably and lockably attachable to avehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a single, cantileveredsupport member removably and irrotationally attachable at its proximalend to the vehicle, the distal end of the support member supporting areceiver having integral mounting means to which the storage containeris attachable. The apparatus is especially suited for vehicles such asmotorcycles, all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs), bicycles and the like.

A detailed description of the invention and preferred embodiments isbest provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therein, FIG.1 depicts a pair of storage containers 28, one each mounted upon each ofthe passenger foot peg brackets 14 of a motorcycle 12. Each of thecontainers 28 is affixed to the motorcycle 12 by the mounting apparatus10, to be described below in detail. For purposes of illustration, thecontainer mounting apparatus 10 can be affixed to a range of vehicles,such as motorcycles, all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs), bicycles, and thelike, and reference will be made here to a motorcycle for ease ofillustration. The motorcycle itself and various conventional parts willbe referred to herein generally by the reference numeral “12” exceptwhere otherwise specifically noted, such as the driver's seat 13, thepassenger's seat 19, and the passenger foot peg bracket 14. Componentparts of the apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 include the storage containersor luggage 28, having lid hinges 55, shown mounted on cantileveredsupport members 17 affixed, at their proximal ends, to the clevis 22 ofthe foot peg brackets 14, and held in place by clevis pins 18. Theentire container 28 and mounting system 10 is secured to the motorcycleby lock 34.

It will be clear to one skilled in the art that one storage system 10may be employed, if desired, and affixed to either the right or leftside of the cycle 12. A pair is preferred, such as the pair shown inFIG. 1 for illustration.

The storage containers 28, or luggage, may be of any of the usual types,but hard luggage is preferred, which can be constructed of fiberglass,plastic, metal, thick leather, or other rigid material known in the art.The advantage of hard luggage is that it is more easily made waterproofand can incorporate container locks readily as well as mechanisms forlocking the container itself to the vehicle.

For reference purposes, FIG. 2 shows a conventional passenger foot pegbracket used on a typical motorcycle, including “V”-shaped arms 14,connecting bolts 20 for affixing the bracket to the motorcycle frame 12(not shown), the arms 14 converging at the clevis 22, in which issecured the foot peg 15 by clevis pin 18. The foot peg 15 is shown inits retracted position, with its operational position, extendingoutwardly to receive the foot of a passenger, illustrated in phantom,with the double-headed arrow indicating the movement thereof. This footpeg bracket, simply cited hereinafter as bracket 14, provides theconnecting point to the motor-cycle 12 for the storage containermounting apparatus 10 of the invention, upon removal of the foot peg 15,which itself can be retained within container 28 for safekeeping.

FIG. 3 shows a further illustration of the conventional passenger footpegs 15, a pair thereof, one each mounted on either side of motorcycle12 in the clevises 22 of the brackets 14, secured thereat by bolts 20,and positioned below passenger seat 19. In the figure, the foot pegs areshown in the retracted position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment according to the invention.FIG. 4 is an exploded view, partially broken away, of a luggagecontainer 28 mountable upon mounting plate 26 as shown, by bolts 36 andnuts 37, which plate 26 is attached to square tube 24 havinglongitudinal opening 40 therethrough. Pre-bored openings 25 in the sidewalls of tube 24 accept locking pin 32 therethrough, described morefully below. Together the plate 26 and attached tube 24 form thereceiving member, or receiver, of the invention, which receives theelongate, cantilevered support member 16 which is affixed to a mountingblock 17 inserted into clevis 22 of the foot peg bracket 14 and securedthereat by clevis pin 18.

The elongate member 16 has a cross-section, as shown, which, oninsertion into the receiver tube 24, prevents spatial rotation of themounting apparatus. The cross-section of member 16 may be square and canbe chamfered at its leading distal end to allow for ready insertion intoopening 40 of the sleeve-like receiver tube 24.

Both the cantilevered support member 16,17 and the receiver 24,26 may beconstructed of any suitable, strong material, which will be known to theskilled artisan. For example, as discussed above, they may be of asuitable strong plastic such as an ABS plastic, or they may be of ametal, with aluminum being preferred owing to considerations of weight.The components may be fashioned by known techniques such as by molding,casting or machining, all techniques known in the art and selected basedon the material chosen for a particular vehicle mount.

The cross-section and other design features of support member 16 arealso a matter of designer's choice. They will be chosen specifically toprohibit spatial rotation of the mount, and will include, in addition tosubstantially square cross-sections, dovetails, T-slotted shafts, andnon-circular shafts in general.

In FIG. 4, the cantilevered member 16 has an opening 33 drilledtherethrough to accommodate the locking pin 32 and associated lock 34,preferably a key lock, as shown.

Foot peg bracket 14 is affixed to the vehicle 12, depicted as themotorcycle of FIG. 1, by bolts 20 extending through openings 27 andthreadingly connected to frame 12 in tapped openings 23 in frame 12 bythreads 21, all as shown.

Upon assembly of the apparatus shown, and locking of lock 34 andindependent container lock 30, the contents of container 28 are secure.In this arrangement, the container 28 and the attached receiver 24,26can be easily detached from the vehicle simply by unlocking lock 34.

The vertical opening in support member 17 for clevis pin 18 is locatedsuch that, upon removal of clevis pin 18 the support member 16,17 may berotated 90 degrees and clevis pin 18 re-inserted. In this configuration,the support member 16,17 is positioned such that it no longer protrudes,but is still readily available for use. Furthermore, when the storagecontainer mount is not needed, the support member 16,17 may be easilyremoved by opening clevis pin 18, removing the support apparatus and, ifdesired, replacing the foot peg 15 in the clevis 22 and reinserting theclevis pin 18.

FIG. 5 illustrates a further preferred embodiment of the invention, andis similar in construction to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. Likecomponents in the two embodiments will be readily apparent to oneskilled in the art and their descriptions will not be repeated,reference to the above description of FIG. 4 being incorporated byreference.

An advantage to the system of FIG. 5 is presented by the single lock 30in the lid of container 28, i.e., when the system is assembled andlocked by container lock 30 the entire system is secured.

Referring to FIG. 5, the container 28 is affixed to receiving member24,26 which accepts the cantilevered support 16, having mounting block17, into its opening 40, in turn secured to the foot peg bracket 14 atclevis 22 by pin 18 and mounted to vehicle 12, all in a fashion similarto that of FIG. 4. In this embodiment, a threaded screw means 41, suchas the thumb screw 41 shown in the broken away view of FIG. 5, extendsthrough the opening 43 in the bottom wall of container 28, through thepre-bored opening 31 in the top wall of square sleeve 24 and into thedrilled and tapped opening 29 in elongate support member 16, openings 29and 31 being in registry on assembly of the apparatus. In the embodimentshown, on assembly as shown, articles may be placed in container 28 inits open configuration, thumb screw 41 tightened by threaded engagementinto opening 29 in support 16, and the entire system locked and securedin place simply by locking the container lock 30. In addition, thecontainer/receiver assembly is easily detached and transportable simplyby unscrewing the thumb screw after unlocking and opening container 28.

FIGS. 6-9 depict still further alternate embodiments of the storagecontainer mounting apparatus of the invention. In these descriptions,like components will be described only once, reference to be had tothese descriptions in their entireties.

FIG. 6 depicts an exploded view of the apparatus of the invention in itsmost general form. Therein is shown the storage unit mounting apparatuswherein the support member and receiving member are constructed as aunitary component structure 46 having a proximal section as shown whichis removably and irrotationally attachable within the clevis 22 of thefoot peg bracket 14 of a motorcycle. The component 46 is lockablysecured thereat by lock 44, preferably a key lock, and lock pin 42,which also serves as a clevis pin passing through opening 51 on support46 and thereby securing the apparatus to the bracket 14. Thecantilevered distal section of member 46 acts as the receiving memberwhich receives, removably, a storage container mounted thereto by bolts48 affixed within threaded openings 50 in the unitary structure 46. Theadhesive layer 45 is also shown in FIG. 6, and this is an optional meansfor securing the storage container to the receiving end of member 46.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the apparatus which includes an elongatecantilevered support shaft 54 affixed to mounting block 52 havingopening 64 therethrough which accepts the cylindrical shaft 54 thereinand is secured therein by threaded bolt 68 as shown. The block 52, arectangular parallelepiped in shape, fits slidingly and snugly into theclevis 22 of foot peg bracket 14 and is lockable therein by lock 44 andlock pin 42, which also acts as the clevis pin, passing through theopenings in clevis 22 and opening 66 in block 52. Owing to itsrectangular shape, block 52 renders the apparatus irrotational.

The receiving member 47 receives the support shaft 54 through opening62, the shaft 54 also being a lock pin acting cooperatively with lock 60to removably lock the apparatus in place. The dual locking system,44,60, presents alternate and evident locking options for the user. Thestorage container 28 is affixed to the receiver 47 by bolts 56 securedin threaded openings 58 in the receiver 47, with the optional adhesivelayer 45 shown for completeness. This embodiment, in effect, provides adouble-cantilevered support apparatus for container 28. The proximalface of the receiver 47 has the vertical indent indicated, which mateswith block 52 on assembly, the assembly effectively preventing spatialrotation of the receiver 47.

FIG. 8 depicts a variation on the embodiment of FIG. 7. The supportshaft 74 in FIG. 8 has a square cross-section, which is attained byeither machining or adding a sleeve, this shaft fitting slidably andsnugly into and through square opening 72 within receiving member 47 andinto square opening 70 in mounting block 52, secured thereat by threadedscrew 68, the apparatus all being thereby rendered irrotational uponassembly.

FIG. 9 is a further embodiment similar to that of FIG. 7 whereinalignment pins 80 are embedded into complimentary alignment openings 78in mounting block 52 which, together with corresponding openings, notseen, in receiver 49, upon assembly, render the apparatus irrotationalabout the cylindrical support shaft/locking pin 84, which slides throughopening 86 in the receiver 49 and into opening 87 in block 52.

FIG. 10 shows a still further embodiment of the invention which may beaffixed to any convenient strut on any vehicle of choice. Therein, thecantilevered support 74 is insertable at its proximal end into squareopening 88 in the mounting block 90, and secured thereat by set screw98, which is partially threaded as shown and partially smooth surfaced,indicated at 99. The screw 98 threadingly engages the threads in opening110, its smooth end extending into opening 97 in the shaft 74, uponassembly, securing the apparatus thereat. The mounting block 90 formsone-half of a swivel joint with complimentary block 92, adjustablespatially by rotation and seating of grooves 102 and secured bytightening of threaded bolt 104. Shaft 74 is secured by threaded bolt100. The entire assembly can be affixed, removably and lockably, asdesired, to a strut 94 of a vehicle, by “C”-clamp 96 and bolts 106 andnuts 108.

FIG. 11 illustrates, in an exploded, side elevation, partially brokenaway, a storage container 28 having a lid lock 30 fore and a hinge 55aft, removably securable to and resting on a receiving member comprisingplate 26 affixed to square tube 24, described above, by nuts 37 andbolts 36, as shown, with optional adhesive film 45 shown forcompleteness. Film 45 may simply be a liquid epoxy applied to plate 28.

FIG. 12 shows a front elevation, partially broken away, of a storagecontainer 28 whose side wall is attachable to a unitary cantileveredsupport/receiver 46 by bolts 48 insertable into threaded openings 50 or,optionally, by adhesive 45.

While the invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certainembodiments and detailed descriptions, it will be clear to one skilledin the art that modifications or variations of such details can be madewithout deviating from the gist of this invention, and suchmodifications or variations are considered to be within the scope of theclaims hereinbelow.

1. Storage unit and mounting apparatus removably attachable to amotorcycle, the apparatus comprising: (a) a storage unit, and (b) asingle, cantilevered support member removably and irrotationallyattachable at its proximal end to said motorcycle, the distal end ofsaid support member supporting, upon attachment thereto, (c) a removableand irrotational receiving member, said receiving member having (d)means for attaching said storage unit thereto, wherein said receivingmember and said storage unit, upon attachment thereof, are supported andrendered irrotational solely by said single cantilevered support member.2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storage unit is removablyattachable to said receiving member. 3.-6. (canceled)
 7. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein said storage unit is constructed of a soft material.8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storage unit is constructed ofa hard material.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the storage unit isconstructed of plastic.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the storageunit is metal.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the storage unit isaluminum.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the storage unit isfiberglass. 13.-16. (canceled)
 17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidmeans for attaching said storage unit includes a plurality of bolts. 18.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said storageunit is an adhesive.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said adhesiveis a pressure sensitive adhesive film.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18wherein said adhesive is a liquid epoxy adhesive.
 21. The apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein said means for attaching said storage unit includes aplurality of bolts.
 22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidcantilevered support member is an elongate member and said receivingmember includes an opening into which said support member is slidablyand snugly received.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said supportmember and said opening are both configured in cross-section such that,upon insertion of the support member into said opening, the apparatus isrendered irrotational.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein saidsupport member is generally square in cross-section and said receivingmember comprises a base plate affixed to a square tube into which saidsupport member is received, the storage unit being attachable to saidbase plate.
 25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said elongate supportmember and receiving member are lockable, one to the other.
 26. Theapparatus of claim 24 wherein said support member and receiving memberare lockable by a lock securable by a locking pin, which pin, uponinsertion of said support member into said opening, extends throughopenings in register in said square tube and said support member. 27.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storage unit is independentlylockable.
 28. The apparatus of claim 22, including threaded screw meansextensible from the interior of said storage unit through a wall of saidunit, through said receiving member, and into a threaded and tappedopening in said elongate support member, threadingly securable thereat,said unit being an independently lockable container, thereby providing,upon assembly of said apparatus, secure storage containment accessibleonly by unlocking said lockable container.
 29. The apparatus of claim 28wherein said threaded screw means is a threaded thumb screw. 30.-32.(canceled)
 33. The apparatus of claim 1 attachable to said vehiclethrough a swivel mount. 34.-41. (canceled)
 42. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said support member and said receiving member are constructed ofplastic.
 43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said support member andsaid receiving member are constructed of fiber reinforced ABS plastic.44. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support member and saidreceiving member are constructed of metal.
 45. The apparatus of claim 44wherein said support member and said receiving member are constructed ofaluminum.
 46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said support member andsaid receiving member are constructed of steel.
 47. The apparatus ofclaim 46 wherein said support member and said receiving member areconstructed of stainless steel. 48.-50. (canceled)
 51. A method ofaffixing a storage unit to a motorcycle comprising: (a) removably andirrotationally attaching to said motorcycle, at its proximal end, asingle cantilevered support member, the distal end of said supportmember removably and irrotationally (b) supporting, upon attachmentthereto, a receiving member, and (c) attaching a storage unit to saidreceiving member, wherein said receiving member and said storage unit,upon attachment thereof, are supported and rendered irrotational solelyby said single cantilevered support member.